Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Building Department elaborates media report about scaffold nets The BD reiterated that it will continue to exercise stringent gate-keeping. The BD will vigilantly enforce the new sampling and testing mechanism for scaffold nets through the tracking and testing requirements and procedures stipulated in PNRC 85, as well as its own sampling and testing mechanism.
Issued at HKT 22:54
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Fatal traffic accident in Tuen Mun
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tuen Mun today (January 30) in which a man died.
At 5.38pm, a motorcycle driven by a 30-year-old man was travelling along Tsing Tin Road towards Tai Hing. When approaching a right bend near lamp post KHM111, it suspectedly went out of control, sideturned and rammed into barriers. The motorcyclist then fell from Tsing Tin Road onto a carriageway of Tuen Mun Road near Tsing Tin Interchange.
Sustaining serious head injuries, the motorcyclist was rushed to Tuen Mun Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 6.36pm.
Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North is underway.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800.
Announcement on Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2025
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) announced today (January 30) that it noted public discussions on the scope of application of the Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2025. Having consulted the Department of Justice, it is considered that there are technical deficiencies in those legal provisions which state the requirement on passengers to wear seat belts on franchised and non-franchised buses. Those provisions do not fully reflect the legislative intent, which is to extend the statutory requirement for the wearing of seat belts to all vehicle seats, thereby providing better protection for passengers.
The TLB will promptly repeal the relevant provisions (i.e., Section 8D and related provisions (if applicable)) of the Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) Regulations (Chapter 374F) by way of publishing in the Gazette as subsidiary legislation. Upon repealing, there will be no statutory requirement for passengers to wear seat belts on franchised or non-franchised buses; for the period leading up to the repeal of relevant provisions, the Government will not enforce the provision. The statutory requirement for the wearing of seat belts on other types of vehicles (including private cars, taxis, goods vehicles, light buses, special purpose vehicles, student service vehicles) will remain in effect.
As the next step, we will gather opinions from various stakeholders, and consider how best to ensure road safety while addressing the concerns raised during the implementation of new requirements. We will further consult the Legislative Council after optimising the arrangements, and reintroducing them at an appropriate time. Meanwhile, we will continue to enhance publicity and education efforts to encourage the voluntary habit of wearing seat belts.
SCED promotes Hong Kong’s unique advantages as two-way platform in Malaysia
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, on his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (January 30) officiated at a Chinese New Year dinner hosted by the newly established Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur ETO) to celebrate the festive season with various sectors of the local community and deepen links between the two places.
This was the first-ever large-scale event organised by the new ETO in Kuala Lumpur after its establishment last December. Speaking to some 400 guests at the dinner, Mr Yau thanked the Malaysian government for supporting the setting up of the ETO in the capital city, adding that it is an important milestone in the already close and solid ties between Malaysia and Hong Kong, and also a clear testament to the shared commitment to deepening bilateral co-operation. From January to October 2025, bilateral trade reached US$21.5 billion, making both places among each other’s top 10 trading partners.
Carcass disposal of whale in Ham Tin Wan completed
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Carcass disposal of whale in Ham Tin Wan completed
The AFCD urges the public to report any whale sightings or stranded cetaceans immediately by calling 1823 or using the 1823 mobile application. Members of the public are reminded to maintain a safe distance from cetaceans, and prioritise personal safety to avoid dangerous situations.
Issued at HKT 21:07
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Nets requested to be removed
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Buildings Department (BD) today said it found through its monitoring mechanism that two registered contractors violated the compliance requirements regarding scaffold nets which were not procured through the Construction Industry Council (CIC).
One of the cases involved a contractor that had installed scaffold nets prior to obtaining a test report confirming compliance, involving repair works in an existing building.
In the other case, the contractor installed a batch of scaffold nets with test reports failing to meet the standards, involving a construction site of a new building.
The BD has ordered the contractors to remove non-compliant nets and is investigating the irregularities, adding that it will take punitive action against the parties involved in accordance with the investigation results.
The department promulgated new tracking and testing requirements for scaffold nets in December last year.
A media report today claimed that there was a case in which sampling tests had been conducted in accordance with the new requirements and a test report was obtained with results that met the fire retardant performance standards. The nets were installed on scaffolding. However, after installation, an audit check by the BD revealed that the scaffold nets did not meet the required standards and removal was required.
The BD made it clear that there was no such case to date.
It pointed out that it has only recently started receiving notifications on completion of scaffold net installation and random testing of installed scaffold nets has just commenced. So far, samples have been collected from three cases that have completed net installation, not involving the scaffold nets procured collectively by the CIC and have been or will shortly be sent to the Government Laboratory for testing. Test results are not yet available.
CM promotion activities probed
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong today said its Disciplinary Committee is investigating and taking appropriate follow-up actions on individuals or organisations for suspected violations of provisions of the code of conduct for Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs).
The council made the statement in response to media enquiries regarding reports on the promotion of Chinese medicine practices.
A media report alleged today that online posts by certain individuals or organisations may have violated relevant provisions of the code of conduct for CMPs.
The council said that over the past five years, its Board and the Disciplinary Committee have investigated a total of 410 cases involving suspected violations of the code of conduct regarding practice promotion by CMPs.
For substantiated allegations, the Disciplinary Committee issued advisory letters to CMPs involved in 365 cases after confirming that the irregularities had been rectified.
Should a CMP fail to comply with the requirements of an advisory letter, the Board and the Disciplinary Committee will take further disciplinary action.
If during the course of handling a case, the Board or the Disciplinary Committee suspects that illegal activities are involved, the matter will be immediately referred to the law enforcement authorities for follow up.
Transport and Logistics Bureau and Civil Engineering and Development Department invite industry to attend briefing sessions on Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area Phase 1 project
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Transport and Logistics Bureau and Civil Engineering and Development Department invite industry to attend briefing sessions on Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area Phase 1 projectIssued at HKT 19:20
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United Christian Hospital achieves accreditation under China’s International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
United Christian Hospital achieves accreditation under China’s International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version) (with photo)
The Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Libby Lee, said, “UCH became the third public hospital accredited under the national hospital accreditation standards, further reaffirming that the service quality and management standards of Hong Kong’s public hospitals have aligned with national systems and reached international levels. The HA will continue to co-ordinate and encourage more public hospitals’ participation in accreditation, continually enhancing the quality and safety of public healthcare services to international standards.”
Dr Lee stated that hospital accreditation serves as a significant opportunity for hospitals to evaluate services thoroughly and enhance their overall services comprehensively. The HA expresses gratitude to the expert team from the Shenzhen Hospital Accreditation Research Center (Research Center) and local experts for their valuable suggestions to the hospitals during the on-site survey. The suggestions are valuable for continuously strengthening the quality of public healthcare.
The expert team from the Research Center praised UCH for its commitment to healthcare quality and technical management. The expert team also highlighted the hospital’s strong focus on patient safety and risk management, and its dedication to community engagement, all of which were crucial for obtaining accreditation. The expert team recognised that the hospital has a robust management structure, efficient emergency response capabilities, and a dedication to providing patient-centred healthcare services, as well as continuous innovation in healthcare technology and service models. These factors were recognised as essential foundations for a hospital seeking international standards.
Dr Deacons Yeung, who led the accreditation efforts at UCH, thanked the support from the Health Bureau and the HA Head Office. He said, “The successful accreditation of UCH is the best affirmation to the hospital’s long-standing commitment to patient safety and high-quality service. It also symbolises that the healthcare quality, management and service levels of the hospital have reached international standards, laying a strong foundation for its future development.”
Dr Yeung noted that the smooth progress towards accreditation was reliant on the professional contributions and teamwork of every colleague in the hospital. Through the accreditation process, the hospital conducted a comprehensive review of its existing services and engaged in candid exchanges with experts, which allowed the hospital to learn from their expertise, as well as enabling the hospital to continuously improve and enhance its service, and provide patients with higher quality healthcare services.
“In the future, the UCH will continue to enhance service quality and strengthen community connections to put the concept of ‘Hospital Without Walls’ into practice, allowing patients to fully experience the hospital’s care for them,” said Dr Yeung.
Issued at HKT 18:05
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SITI visits Malaysia
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SITI visits Malaysia
Upon his arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Professor Sun immediately called on the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia, Mr Chang Lih Kang. They had an in-depth exchange on the innovation and technology (I&T) developments, industry policies and co-operation direction between the two places. Professor Sun said that Hong Kong will continue to leverage its distinctive advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle, as it enjoys the strong support of the motherland and its close connections to the world, adding that Hong Kong provides industry chain support from research and development (R&D), pilot production to production through key platforms such as the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Hetao Hong Kong Park). He said he looked forward to further strengthening the collaboration between Hong Kong and Malaysia in areas of innovative R&D, strategic industries development and nurturing start-ups, and that the two places could jointly enhance I&T collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.
Professor Sun then visited the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI) to learn more about the innovation ecosystem built by MRANTI there. MRANTI is committed to promoting demand-driven R&D in technology across industries and fostering the partnering of enterprises, academia and public organisations through different support programmes. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen co-ordination among MRANTI, the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hetao Hong Kong Park, with a view to facilitating exchanges and project matching for tech enterprises of the two places.
Professor Sun also called on the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Ouyang Yujing, and introduced the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s latest plans in I&T. They also exchanged views on how Hong Kong can support the deepening co-operation of I&T and industries between the country and Malaysia.
Today (January 30), Professor Sun visited Universiti Malaya to explore opportunities for exchanges in R&D and talent as well as industry collaboration, with a view to driving the innovative development of Hong Kong and ASEAN. He said that the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park will provide ideal development platforms for outstanding Malaysian talent and enterprises, and will seize development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the world. Professor Sun toured the university’s display showcasing its achievements in AI robotics technology and outcome transformation of industry co-operation.
Professor Sun then met with the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association and exchanged views on collaboration opportunities in the R&D and manufacturing of semiconductors as well as the industry chain. Both sides agreed to leverage complementary strengths in advancing high value-added manufacturing and technology innovation, make use of the R&D edges of the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute, and pilot transformation capabilities of the Hetao Hong Kong Park, as well as foster technology co-operation and market connections.
He also visited a service-robotics enterprise to learn about its business focusing on designing and developing customised robotics products and solutions. The enterprise leverages vision AI and advanced analytics to develop humanoid and service robots for customer engagement, education, and various commercial environments. Professor Sun encouraged the enterprise to explore collaboration opportunities with Hong Kong’s R&D institutions and consider establishing R&D or test bases in the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hetao Hong Kong Park in the future.
The Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Terry Wong, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, Mr Vincent Ma, joined the visit.
Professor Sun concluded his visit and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.
Issued at HKT 16:48
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